Flying with Emirates

Flying with Emirates

story by:
Tom Ricketts

Complementing their existing four flights from New Zealand to Dubai (via Australia), Emirates are now flying direct and non-stop from Auckland to Dubai. With flights departing daily, the new Auckland flight will arrive in Dubai just before 6.00am, offering fantastic connectivity to Emirates’ 38 European destinations. And with a mere three hour layover before your onward flight, the world's never been so accessible.

Emirates is one of the largest and most well respected airlines in the world. In its short 30 year history, it has built up one of the largest and most modern fleets of airplanes, excelled in customer service, and helped turn the once backwater city of Dubai into one of the world’s most exciting tourist destinations.

Why Fly With Emirates?

The name Emirates is synonymous with excellent service and their cabin crew are consistently voted amongst the best in the world. Being a full service airline, meals are included in your ticket, but of course, Emirates don’t serve your average airline meal. In economy class you’re served up an entree, main and desert (two options in each category), as well as complimentary softdrinks, beer and wine! Business and First Class passengers have couple more options for meals and deserts, and are treated to fine spirits and champagne. But where Emirates really shows its brilliance is with its inflight entertainment. Every seat comes with its own TV crammed full of a whopping 2,000 hours of blockbuster movies, TV shows, destination info, news and sports. Wifi is also being rolled out across the fleet so you can keep up to date with your emails and Facebook. They even stream selected sporting events live so if you happen to be onboard on 31 October, you’ll still be able to watch the All Blacks win the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

What Do They Fly?

Emirates started operations with an Airbus A300 and a Boeing 737 back in 1985. Since then they have rapidly expanded to operate a fleet of over 200 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with nearly another 300 on order! In keeping with their fleet renewal policy, the average age of an Emirates plane is only 6.3 years, making them one of the most modern and safest fleets in the business. They also have by far the largest fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft, the largest passenger aircraft in the world.

Where Do They Fly?

Emirates fly daily to Auckland and Christchurch. Flights from Christchurch on the Boeing 777 fly via Sydney to Bangkok or Dubai. From Auckland, Emirates fly the Airbus A380 via Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Dubai, as well as non-stop from Auckland to Dubai on a 777. From Dubai they fly to a further 135 destinations in 76 countries around the world (78 including New Zealand and Aussie). The connections through Dubai are fantastic and often require only a few hours between flights.

EMIRATES LUXURY

Dubai is known for its over-the-top luxury, and Emirates is no different. The experience doesn’t start at the airport though, but at your door. All Business Class passengers have a complimentary chauffeur service to whisk you away from home or hotel to the airport. Once you’ve checked in, retire to the lounge to escape the noise and chaos of the airport terminal. The lounge is set up with wifi and business facilities, and of course serves up plenty of gourmet cuisine. Once onboard, Business Class passengers can relax in their leather recliner and enjoy a drink from their personal mini bar while catching up with some work at their desk, or just watching a movie. When it’s time for bed, the seat reclines fully flat for a comfortable night’s sleep. First Class passengers will be blown away with their own private suite complete with personal mini bar, private cinema and fully flat bed. The suite has doors, meaning you can shut yourself away and not be bothered for the entire flight. But perhaps the most amazing feature is the onboard ‘Shower Spa’, complete with Bvlgari toiletries (A380 aircraft only). Finally, both Business and First Class passengers have access to the Onboard Lounge, a small, bar-like cabin where you can order drinks and canapés, and you may even be lucky enough to spot a celebrity of two (Onboard Lounge on A380 aircraft only). >FIND HOT EMIRATES DEALS HERE